On April 18, seventh-grade students at Kyrene Altadeña Middle School walked to help make a difference for families in South Sudan. The fundraiser, nearing its tenth year, will help provide clean water for impoverished communities.

During students’ English Language Arts class period, students each carried two gallons of water on a walk around fields at Altadeña, raising money with each completed trip. In addition to fundraising, students were recreating the experience of a character in the book, “A Long Walk to Water.” The book tells the story of a young Sudanese girl who walks barefoot every day for hours to collect water.

“We had a lot of support this year for the Water Walk,” said Tara Camarano, a seventh-grade ELA teacher. “The community came together to help raise the money. Students gained a great sense of empathy as they learned how much work it is to walk a long distance carrying water. They now have a new appreciation for what many go through daily in South Sudan.”

Camarano also entered a drawing hosted by Water for South Sudan — and won — securing a special visit to Altadeña’s campus. In May, a representative from the organization will meet with students to share how their fundraising efforts are transforming communities in South Sudan.

“We have an upcoming live presentation with a representative from Water for South Sudan, Inc. where students will learn about water scarcity in South Sudan and be given an overview of the drilling, rehabilitation, and sanitation projects,” said Camarano.

Each year, seventh-grade ELA teachers aim to raise at least $1,000 for the Water for South Sudan organization. The students exceeded their goal again this year and raised more than $1,500.

The funds help to build wells for Sudanese villages, where women and children walk an average of 3.7 miles per trip to collect water, which is often contaminated. According to Water for South Sudan, only one out of ten people there have access to basic sanitation. Since the fundraiser began, Altadeña Middle Schoolers have raised nearly $20,000 and partially sponsor a well in South Sudan and are looking into sponsoring a second.